Music-leaf turner.



E. H. SHEPHERD MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, I9l5 1,189,880. Patented July 4, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I zrrlesf l Si 67161 64 E. H. SHEPHERD.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED 02c. I6, I915.

Patented July 4:, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST H. SHEPHERD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Application filed December 16, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST H. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States,-residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in music leaf turners, the object of the inven tion being to provide improved means for turning a leaf in both directions through the medium of a single lever.

A further object is to provide a music leaf tumor which is adapted for use on a piano or other similar instrument, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonably low price.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in front elevation illustrating my improved music leaf turner in position on a piano. Fig. 2 is a view in section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the leaf holding clamp. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan showing the operating lever and its cooperating parts, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in front end elevation showing the operating lever with its push button removed and indicating the relation of the lever to the crank shaft operated thereby.

My improved music leaf turner is made with a frame 1 having rearwardly projecting feet 2 adapted to rest upon the music rack 3 of a piano 4. These feet 2 are formed by bending a strip of metal as shown clearly in Fig. 2, securing the ends of the strip to the frame 1 and forming in said strip a curved recess 5 which receives the ledge 6 of the music rest 3. A pair of perforated ears 7, one of which is screw-threaded, are fixed to the center of the frame 1 at its upper end, and support an adjusting screw 8, the free end 9 of which is adapted to bear against the under face of a projecting ledge 10 on the piano, and when in operative position, securely holds the music rest in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When in this normal position, the frame 1 inclines rearwardly from its lower to its upper end Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Serial No. 67,106.

for a purpose which will more fully herein after appear.

The frame 1 is provided throughout its lower edge with an angle bar 11 constituting a. ledge or rest for the music. A shaft 12 vertically positioned and located centrally of frame 1, is supported to turn in a perforated lug 13 at the top of the frame, and at its lower portion projects through an opening 141 in the bar 11. A relatively long crank arm 15 is provided on the upper end of shaft 12, and this crank arm 15 supports a relatively long spring-pressed clamp 16 which is adapted to clamp the upper edge of a music leaf to be turned, while the main portion of the music is held against the frame 1, and to effectually hold the same, I

provide spring clips 17 at the ends of the frame as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

On the lower end of shaft 12, I provide a relatively short crank arm 18 which is moved by my improved lever 19. This lever 19 is preferably composed of a single strip of metal forming at one end, a support 20 for a push button 21. The other end of the lever 19 is bifurcated with its'two members 22 straddled apart, and both members 22 pivotally supported on a shaft 23, the latter secured in brackets 24 fixed to bar 11. A coiled spring 25 on the shaft 23 tends to hold the free end of the lever 20 in an ele vated position, and a slotted bracket 26 secured to bar 11, and through which lever 19 projects, operates to limit the pivotal movement of the lever in both directions. Both members 22 of the bifurcated end of lever 19 are provided with upwardly projecting fingers 27 which are in position to engage the crank arm 18 of shaft 12, and when the lever 19 is forced down by a sharp blow on the button 21, the finger 27 will impart a sufficient momentum to the shaft 12 to cause the shaft to turn and carry the movable sheet from one side of the frame to the other. This turning movement is facilitated by the inclined position of the frame, as it will be understood that the weight of the clamp 16 and crank arm 15 will move the sheet or page to be turned back against the frame after they have passed the midportion of the turning movement of the shaft, and by reason of their weight, will tend always to hold the movable sheet flat against the frame, or rather against the stationary sheets.

With most pieces of music, it is simply necessary to turn but a single page or sheet, and it often happens that the music is repeated, so that the page must be turned backwardly as well as forwardly. Vith my improvements, the sheet can be turned in both directions by the same operation of the lever 19, and it is to be understood that the operation is caused by a sharp blow or impact rather than by a pressure.

It is to be understood that in such places where it is desirable to prevent wear and to cushion contact, felt or other suitable material 28 is employed, but I, of course, do not limit myself in this regard.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A music lea-f turner, comprising a frame, a shaft mounted to turn in the frame and having crank arms at both ends, means on one crank arm to engage a music leaf, a

lever having a bifurcated end pivotally conextreme positions, whereby the movement of the lever operates to turn the shaft in both directions, substantially as described.

2. A music leaf turner, comprising a frame, a shaft mounted to turn 1n the frame and having crank arms at both ends, means on one crank arm to engage a muslc leaf, a lever pivotally connected to the frame and having two members thereon located at opposite sides of the shaft each of which is adapted to engage the crank arm in one of its extreme positions, whereby the movement of the lever operates to turn the shaft in both directions, a slotted plate limiting the movement the lever, and a spring holding the lever in. normal position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST H. SHEPHERD. lVitnesses A. SHEPHERD, C. E. Porrs.

Sop! g! flail patent any be pbt ained or five cents each, by addressing the Gemmluio ner of Intense. Washington, Dag." 

